Abscisic acid in needles of Pinus cembra in relation to ozone exposure

Ozone pollution was analyzed in arolla pine (Pinus cembra L.) forests growing over two mountain ranges located in southern France by using specific ozone-sensitive tobacco plants as bio-indicators and a physico-chemical analyzer. Concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA) were determined in needles of healthy and declining trees in a massif with a declining forest and in a massif with a healthier forest. In addition, ABA was quantified in needles of trees exposed to either charcoal-filtered air or unfiltered air supplemented with ozone in open-top chambers located at the Col du Donon. The concentration of ABA in needles of injured trees increased when the trees were exposed to ozone either under field conditions or in open-top chambers; however, the difference in ABA concentration between control and ozone-exposed needles was less in the open-top chambers, where ozone was the sole variable, than in the field. The results are discussed in the context of the effects of ozone on plant water relations and hormone-mediated cell defense.     

Population density and range use of sika deer,Cervus nippon, on Mt. Ohdaigahara, central Japan

We investigated the population density and range use of sika deer,Cervus nippon, on Mt. Ohdaigahara, central Japan, from July 1996 to July 1997. The deer population density estimated by the block count was high at 17.5–30.9 deer/km². Although the deer remained this area from spring to fall, they moved out in winter, probably because of deep snow. A spotlight count showed that the deer prefer the eastern area as spring-summer range, where the forest consists of coniferous trees over a floor cover ofSasa nipponica, andS. nipponica grassland. The deer also use dense coniferous forest for cover, especially in summer and fall. Part of this study was presented at the 108th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Forestry Society (1997). This study was financially supported by the Environment Agency, Japan.     

Effects of bark stripping by sika deer, Cervus nippon, on wind damage to coniferous trees in subalpine forest of central Japan

We evaluated the effect of bark stripping by sika deer (Cervus nippon), and subsequent wood decay, on tree fall in a coniferous forest on Mt Ohdaigahara in central Japan from July to September 2006. This valuable primeval coniferous forest is declining because of bark stripping. Broken trunks of Abies homolepis and Picea jezoensis var. hondoensis had more serious decay and larger bark-stripping wounds on the trunk than standing trees, suggesting that bark stripping causes trunk decay and results in broken trunks and uprooting by typhoons.     

Comparison of two coniferous plantations in central Japan with respect to forest productivity, growth phenology and soil nitrogen dynamics

Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.) and Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) are common species for plantation forestry in Japan. Cypress is conventionally planted on sites of low fertility whereas for cedar high fertility sites are used. Objectives of this study were to compare the productivities of cypress and cedar plantations grown on adjacent sites where common properties of soils, such as pH values and C and N contents, were similar, and to relate the N cycling at their site with productivities. The stem diameter of trees, aboveground litter production and fine root biomass were measured as indices of forest productivity. Parameters of N cycling included pools of total N and mineral N (ammonium + nitrate), annual N leaching, and potentially mineralizable N. The radial stem increment of the two tree species was similar. However, cedar site had higher total basal area and annual basal increment than cypress site reflecting higher tree density on the cedar site. Aboveground litter, fine root biomass, soil organic matter, and N turnover were higher on the cedar site than on the cypress site. However, litter production and fine root biomass per unit basal area was greater at the cypress site. Phenological pattern of stem growth and periodical litter production were similar for both species during the study period (1992–2000), but showed distinct annual variations caused by the fluctuation in the ambient temperature and precipitation. Mineral N content and the N mineralization potential were greater on the cedar site, indicating greater N availability and higher total tree productivity at the cedar site than those at the cypress site. When provided with more space in the canopy to expand more needles and in the soil to develop more fine roots to exploit sufficient resources, the individual cypress trees have the potential to grow faster. On fertile site and at lower tree density, thicker logs of cypress might be yielded.     

Responses of Pinus massoniana and Pinus taeda to freezing in temperate forests in central China

Abstract

Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.), a native species widely distributed in temperate forests in central China, and Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), an exotic tree species introduced to China from southeastern United States, are dominant evergreen conifers that play a pivotal role in maintaining forest structure and functions for the region. We examined the effects of freezing on these species with chlorophyll fluorescence and electrolyte leakage using both field- and laboratory-based experiments in September 2009 and January 2010, respectively. We found that freezing could cause a greater impact on the Loblolly pine than the Masson pine. Although the two species showed similar values of F _v /F _m and electrolyte leakage before freezing, the Masson pine needles showed lower F _v /F _m and higher electrolyte leakage ratios than those of the Loblolly pine when treated in low temperatures (?15 to 0°C). We also found that cold-acclimation was crucial for both species to adapt to low temperatures with the F _v /F _m ratio decreased approximately by 80% in the first freezing hour for the non-acclimated needles of both species while the cold-acclimated needles showed little changes in the F _v /F _m ratio. This finding is also supported by our measurements of electrolyte leakage. These results suggest that the Loblolly pine could be more susceptible to freezing damages than the Masson pine in central China.     

Radial growth variation of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) across latitudinal and altitudinal gradients in central and northern Europe

Regional and temporal growth variation of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and its dependence on air temperature and precipitation were compared in stands across latitudinal and altitudinal transects in southwestern and eastern Germany, Norway, and Finland. The temporal variation of radial growth was divided into two components: medium- and high-frequency variation, i.e. decadal and year-to-year variation, respectively. The medium-frequency component was rather different between regions, especially the southern and northern ones. However, within each region the medium-frequency growth variation was relatively similar, irrespective of altitudinal and latitudinal differences of the sample sites. A part of the high-frequency variation was common to all four regions, which suggests that some factors synchronising tree growth are common for the entire study area. The high-frequency component of growth was more strongly related to monthly air temperature and precipitation than was the medium-frequency variation. The limiting effect of low temperatures was more significant at northern as well as high-altitude sites, while the importance of precipitation increased in the south and at low altitudes.     

Foliage, fine-root, woody-tissue and stand respiration in Pinus radiata in relation to nitrogen status

We measured respiration of 20-year-old Pinus radiata D. Don trees growing in control (C), irrigated (I), and irrigated + fertilized (IL) stands in the Biology of Forest Growth experimental plantation near Canberra, Australia. Respiration was measured on fully expanded foliage, live branches, boles, and fine and coarse roots to determine the relationship between CO(2) efflux, tissue temperature, and biomass or nitrogen (N) content of individual tissues. Efflux of CO(2) from foliage (dark respiration at night) and fine roots was linearly related to biomass and N content, but N was a better predictor of CO(2) efflux than biomass. Respiration (assumed to be maintenance) per unit N at 15 degrees C and a CO(2) concentration of 400 micro mol mol(-1) was 1.71 micro mol s(-1) mol(-1) N for foliage and 11.2 micro mol s(-1) mol(-1) N for fine roots. Efflux of CO(2) from stems, coarse roots and branches was linearly related to sapwood volume (stems) or total volume (branches + coarse roots) and growth, with rates for maintenance respiration at 15 degrees C ranging from 18 to 104 micro mol m(-3) s(-1). Among woody components, branches in the upper canopy and small diameter coarse roots had the highest respiration rates. Stem maintenance respiration per unit sapwood volume did not differ among treatments. Annual C flux was estimated by summing (1) dry matter production and respiration of aboveground components, (2) annual soil CO(2) efflux minus aboveground litterfall, and (3) the annual increment in coarse root biomass. Annual C flux was 24.4, 25.3 and 34.4 Mg ha(-1) year(-1) for the C, I and IL treatments, respectively. Total belowground C allocation, estimated as the sum of (2) and (3) above, was equal to the sum of root respiration and estimated root production in the IL treatment, whereas in the nutrient-limited C and I treatments, total belowground C allocation was greater than the sum of root respiration and estimated root production, suggesting higher fine root turnover or increased allocation to mycorrhizae and root exudation. Carbon use efficiency, the ratio of net primary production to assimilation, was similar among treatments for aboveground tissues (0.43-0.50). Therefore, the proportion of assimilation used for construction and maintenance respiration on an annual basis was also similar among treatments.     

Growth of young Pinus ponderosa and Pinus contorta on compacted soil in central Washington

Growth in height, diameter, and volume was measured on 9- to 18-year-old ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and 10- to 13-year-old lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) trees growing on or near compacted skid trails in the Yakima Indian Reservation in south-central Washington. Soil bulk density of the 0- to 30.5-cm deep layer was measured with a single-probe nuclear densimeter on two sides of each sample tree and in adjacent undisturbed soil. On three ponderos pine sites logged 23 years before the study, average bulk density on skid trails was 15% greater than on adjacent undisturbed soil. On a lodgepole pine site logged 14 years before the study, soil on skid trails averaged 28% greater bulk density than undisturbed soil.Total growth of ponderosa pine and the last 5 years of growth were significantly related (P = 0.07) by regression analysis to age of trees, site index, basal area of the adjacent overstory, and the percentage of increase in soil bulk density. At the mean increase in soil bulk density, total height, diameter, and volume growth were reduced 5%, 8%, and 20%, respectively.Total growth of lodgepole pine and the last 5 years of height, diameter, and volume growth were significantly related to tree age and the percentage of soil organic matter. Increase in soil bulk density was not significantly related to growth of this species.     

Shoot growth patterns in saplings of Cleyera japonica in relation to light and architectural position

To gain further insight into crown development, the influences of shoot architectural position (branch order) and light environment on patterns of shoot growth of Cleyera japonica Thunberg (Theaceae) were investigated. Annual shoot length and light environment were positively correlated within same-order branches. Shoot length differed significantly among branch orders: shoot length was greater for the lower-order branches when light environments were comparable. Lower-order branches lengthened to a certain extent even if light availability was relatively low, whereas higher-order branches did not grow vigorously even when light availability was relatively high. Within same-order branches, branching was independent of the light environment of the shoot. Sylleptic shoot production differed significantly among branch orders, with most sylleptic shoots being produced on second-order branches. It is concluded that both light condition and architectural position of shoots must be considered when examining the mechanisms underlying crown development.     

燕山山地人工油松林单株生物量与生产力研究

对燕山山地9～48a生油松人工林20株标准木的研究表明:林木各器官生物量分配情况表现为干>枝>根>叶,建立了多个油松林木及器官生物量预测模型;提出油松人工林的RSR变化为0.135～0.293,平均值为0.193;分析了油松人工林中多年平均生产力与年生产力的变化情况,利用Logstic模型估测树龄48a时生产力为14205.3g/a,为本次调查的最高值,因此建议生产上主伐林龄应推迟到50a以后。     

横坑切梢小蠹林间危害与诱捕量之间的相关性分析

【目的】明确聚集信息素对横坑切梢小蠹诱捕量与不同危害程度的云南松林有虫梢率之间的关系,为横坑切梢小蠹种群监测与防治提供技术支持。【方法】采用随机抽样法,调查云南省祥云县普淜镇和下庄镇2个样地云南松林内切梢小蠹的危害情况,并在由梢部危害转至干部危害期利用聚集信息素诱捕横坑切梢小蠹成虫,分析横坑切梢小蠹在梢转干时期的种群变化规律及有虫梢率与诱捕量之间的关系。【结果】普淜和下庄2个样地横坑切梢小蠹和云南切梢小蠹是优势种。普淜样地中横坑切梢小蠹占49. 75%,雌雄比为1. 06∶1;云南切梢小蠹占50. 25%,雌雄比为1. 32∶1。下庄样地中横坑切梢小蠹占54%,雌雄比为1. 45∶1;云南切梢小蠹占46%,雌雄比为1. 88∶1。2样地中横坑切梢小蠹蛀梢期树冠有虫梢率从上到下依次降低,普淜样地有虫梢率约为下庄样地的10倍。2样地横坑切梢小蠹的诱捕量在整个梢转干期呈现相同的规律,成虫扬飞均始于11月中旬,终见于翌年5月下旬,扬飞高峰期是3月初至4月下旬。诱捕器中天敌种群数量与横坑切梢小蠹数量有明显的跟随现象。诱捕器中横坑切梢小蠹雌雄性比在1∶1. 09～1. 71之间,雄性个体数量明显多于雌性。横坑切梢小蠹林间有虫梢率(y)与诱捕量(x)之间呈线性正相关,其中在高虫口密度普淜样地拟合函数关系式为y=0. 002 4x+0. 060 1(R^2=0. 67),低虫口密度下庄样地拟合函数关系式为y=0. 003 2x-0. 004 3(R^2=0. 71)。【结论】了解高、低虫口密度下横坑切梢小蠹在云南松树冠中的分布规律,利用聚集信息素诱捕可作为监测横坑切梢小蠹种群变化的有效方法,且诱捕量与林间有虫梢率呈线性正相关,诱捕量可反应横坑切梢小蠹在蛀梢期的有虫梢率。     

Morphology of epicuticular waxes in Pinus pinea needles in relation to season and pollution-climate

Micromorphological change of the epicuticular wax structure in Pinus pinea needles was analysed by scanning electron microscope and the relationships between the rates of wax weathering over seasons and the pollution-climate at one urban and two rural sites arediscussed.     

Influence of fire and mountain pine beetle on the dynamics of lodgepole pine stands in British Columbia,Canada

An outbreak of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins; MPB), currently affecting over 10.1 million hectares of lodgepole pine forests (Pinus contorta Dougl.) in British Columbia, Canada, is the largest in recorded history. We examined the dynamics of even-aged lodgepole pine forests in southern British Columbia, which were undergoing this MPB outbreak. Using dendroecology and forest measurements we reconstructed the stand processes of stand initiation, stand disturbances, tree mortality, and regeneration, and explained the current stand structure and the potential MPB impacts in selected stands. Our results indicate that stand-replacing fires initiated even-aged seral lodgepole pine stands in this region. In the absence of fire in the 20th century, multiple MPB disturbances, which each resulted in partial canopy removal, modified the simple one-layer structure of the fire-origin stands by the initiation of post-MPB disturbance regeneration layers, transforming the stands into complex, multi-aged stands. Despite high overstory mortality due to the current MPB outbreak, regeneration layers, which are likely to survive the current outbreak, will provide important ecological legacies and will contribute to mid-term timber supply.     

Resistance of improved Pinus monticola and some other white pines to the blister rust fungus,Cronartium ribicola,of Hokkaido,Japan

Resistant progenies of Pinus monticola, improved in the northwestern USA, and Asian and European white pines were inoculated with the blister rust fungus, Cronartium ribicola, of Hokkaido. No resistance was observed in P. monticola but the other pines remained healthy. This shows that the resistance of white pines to the blister rust fungus is limited to a particular pathogenic race and a different race of the rust fungus exists in Hokkaido.     

祁连山排露沟流域中山带青海云杉林生长与海拔梯度上环境因子的关系

选择分布在祁连山排露沟流域中山带（海拔2900～3300 m）分布的青海云杉林为研究对象,研究了其生长与海拔梯度上环境因子的关系。研究结果表明：（1）青海云杉胸径和树高大小从郁闭林2900 m 到高山林线3300 m 处的变化规律表明,青海云杉生长在海拔3200 m 以上受到环境胁迫作用明显;青海云杉更新苗和非更新苗密度在海拔梯度上的变化规律也证实了这一点;（2）随海拔梯度的增加,青海云杉林地年降水量递增率平均值为19.94 mm/100 m;年均气温递减率大小为-0.67℃/100 m,青海云杉生长最低气温为-1.72℃;热量条件在一定程度上抑制了海拔3200 m 以上青海云杉的生长;（3）土壤剖面年均温度沿海拔高度的增加不断减小,而土壤含水量不断增加;土壤有机质、全氮和有效氮含量随海拔梯度的增加其含量也不断增加;土壤全磷、有效磷、全钾和有效钾含量随海拔梯度的增加没有明显的变化规律;不同海拔土壤酸碱性呈碱性;青海云杉林地有机质和全氮含量丰富,但是随海拔梯度增加土壤温度降低使得有效养分供应不足;（4）方差分析表明,海拔梯度影响下的环境因子对不同海拔青海云杉生长的影响大小顺序为：土壤化学性质（10.261）＞气象因子（7.900）＞土壤物理性质（2.535）,林地土壤化学性质是影响林木生长的最关键因子。上述研究结果有望为祁连山森林培育和保护管理提供理论参考和数据支持,也为干旱、半干旱区亚高寒山地森林植被对环境变化响应机制提供理论依据。     

抚育间伐对鲁中山区油松人工林生长的影响

以淄博市鲁山林场的油松人工林为研究对象,从胸径、单株材积和单位面积蓄积量3个林木生长指标来分析抚育间伐对林分生长的影响。结果表明,与对照样地相比,2000年抚育间伐的油松人工林在2001—2004,2005—2008和2009—2012年的平均胸径生长量分别提高了7.28%,78.95%和205.00%,平均单株材积生长量分别提高了15.38%,101.75%和312.24%。此外,与对照样地相比,2000年抚育间伐的油松人工林在2005—2008和2009—2012年的单位面积蓄积量分别提高了84.18%和294.50%。可见,抚育间伐可有效促进油松的生长,该研究为人工林抚育间伐提供了科学依据。     

Recent expansion of Pinus nigra Arn. above the timberline in the central Apennines, Italy

? Context

The altitude of timberlines in the central Apennines has lowered over the past few thousand years due to interacting natural and anthropogenic disturbances. These timberlines are usually sharp and consist of coppiced beech forests.

? Aims

We found scattered individuals of European black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) at two high elevation sites above the timberline on limestone slopes. We investigated the spatial and temporal pattern expansion of black pine and assessed vigour and growth dynamics of pine trees.

? Methods

Over 250 individuals were mapped in the two sites using GPS. Several site and tree parameters were measured. Tree-ring widths and the frequency of intra-annual density fluctuations were also recorded.

? Results

Black pine expansion started around 30?years ago. Pine trees are randomly distributed at higher elevations with no visible spatial pattern. Germination peaks were synchronous in the two sites, and tree growth displayed very similar chronologies, with synchronous occurrence of intra-annual density fluctuations.

? Conclusion

We hypothesise that the reduced livestock grazing over the last decades as well as climate warming are the major driving forces behind the high-altitude expansion of black pine on the central Apennines, where this species was present in pre-historic times.     

Aftereffects of maternal environment on autumn frost hardiness in Pinus sylvestris seedlings in relation to cultivation techniques

Full-sib families of Pinus sylvestris (L.) from genetically identical parent clones, grown at three geographic locations (64, 59.5, and 56 degrees N), were tested for autumn frost hardiness. At one of the locations (64 degrees N), maternal clones were grown in plots subjected to different site treatments. Progenies raised in a heated greenhouse with additional artificial light were induced to undergo two shoot elongation periods, separated by a period with long nights and non-hardening temperatures, followed by a hardening period. Frost hardiness was tested by exposing seedlings to -17, -19, or -21 degrees C during the hardening period. Progenies produced at the northernmost locality (64 degrees N) were the most hardy. The hardiness ranking among localities and the magnitude of differences in hardiness were in accordance with earlier results obtained from the same crosses that had undergone only one shoot elongation period. Effects of maternal site treatments were significant but small compared with family differences. The growth regimes used in the present study did not eliminate maternal effects induced by geographic location, but maternal effects related to site treatment decreased substantially in relation to family variation when compared with seedlings that had undergone only a single shoot elongation period. The results are discussed in relation to other studies of the same crosses raised under different growth conditions.     

Age structure and regeneration of subalpine fir (Abies fargesii) forests across an altitudinal range in the Qinling Mountains,China

Age structure and regeneration dynamics of subalpine fir (Abies fargesii) forest were studied across the altitudinal range in both the north and south aspects of the Qinling Mountains, China. Ages of individual fir trees were determined based on the number of rings counted from cores and the number of years to reach coring height estimated using age–height regression. Fir age structure and regeneration dynamics were similar in both the north and south aspects. A unimodal population age structure was found at the low- and mid-elevations in both aspects, indicating that environmental factors might play an important role in shaping A. fargesii age structure and regeneration at those sites. There was a recruitment pulse during the time period 1830–1890 at each altitudinal site, but no stem recruitment occurred at the low- and mid-elevations in the last century, which might be attributed to the intensive cover of understory bamboo. Fir trees were, however, persistently recruited at the upper limits during the last 150 years, and the fir tree density at the upper limits was significantly higher than that at the lower limits in both aspects. The fir population at the upper limits showed a significant increase in recruitment and stem density relative to the fir population at the low- and mid-elevations in the last century. We propose that the differences in recruitment might promote variations in stand structure and regeneration dynamics of the subalpine fir forests along the altitudinal gradient in the Qinling Mountains, China.